Animal controlled watering device



Feb. 12, 1952 c. H. HARMON ANIMAL CONTROLLED WATERING DEVICE 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed March 13, 1947 .5 a d mr M g 2. I v w @y aan 23 W i L? u pw q m 6 im l w, )6 f m/ 4 Jo/w /WWU4 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. C'Zzfze Hdryfarman.

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C. H- HARMON ANIMAL CONTROLLED WATERING DEVICE Feb. 12, 1952 Filed March 13, 1947 Patented Feb. 12, 1952 Cline Harry Harmon', Waterloo, Iowa, assignor yto Waterloo Foundry Com a copartnership pany, Waterloo, Iowa, Y

Applic'ationMal'ch 13, 1947,` iSeialNo. 734,375

5- Claims. 11

This invention .relates to watering devices for animals.

The device rof the present invention is `adapted to be connected with a supply of water, either from 'a pressuresystemor'a gravitysystem. The apparatus is designed vso that the device will ibe retained full, or have su'lcient `water therein, by the vaction of the 'animals themselves in drinking therefrom.

An object of the invention is the provision of an 'arrangement of such -a watering device :in which when the `animal vseeks to drink water therefrom his natural actions open Athe water supply, and v'when water is so supplied and the animal has quenched his thirst, `he naturally retracts, permitting the water supply to be shut off.

Specically, the device includes a watering bowl so shaped that when an animal drinks therefrom and extends his nose into ythe device in an attempt to drink'the last 'quantityof water therein, his nose contacts a swingable lplate which opens a valve when the animal v pushes on the plate.

A further object of the invention is' the provision of a lever operable by swingingv the ,plate mentioned above, Ywhereby the valve may 'be opened against high pressure.

Another object of the invention is an arrange;-

2 Y Figure 5 isa partial horizontal sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 4. Y

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the watering device includes a bowl I2, having a depending Yskirt portion I4 and a dish shaped container 416 for water. The bowl I2 is arranged so that fthe Vani-mal 'approaches from the left as viewed in Figures 1, '2 and 3. The dish shaped container :Hi vslopes gradually from the 'left to the right through substantially the whole length of the-bowl I2, and at 'the right is a substantially vertical wall If-8 form-ing the opposite end of the dish shaped container. The 4bowl I2 `may be supported on fa horizontal supporting surface; or on a wall lin a slightly elevated position. Lateral ears I9 are vformed lon the bottom of the vskirt portion I4 for securing the b'owl cna support.

A feed line 20, which may be attached to a pressureiwaiter system or to a vgravity fed system, leads 'into the interior o'f the bowl through the vertical wall I8 at a point toward the top ofthe wall I8. The feed line ZDmay of course vbe any desirable pipew'ith appropriate ttings and conment of such a plate, as mentioned above, `so f arranged and balanced 'that-it tendsV to swing by gravity to valve closingA position. It is therefore unnecessary to employ springs or other means for closing the valve.

A further object is .the provision of such a watering device which is self cleaning.

Another `object is the provision of a watering device formed of Va dminimum of parts, and these parts are themselves Lof simple and. rugged construction.

With theseand other 'objects inV view, my in vention consists in the construction,V arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter Vmore ful-ly set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated vin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure f1 is a plan view of the device of -the present invention;

Figui-e2 is Aa side view of the device, with a portionthereof shown broken away;

Figure 3 .is a longitudinal .sectional view `tahen on .line 3.-3 of Figure .1 ;V

Figure 4 is .a crossfsectional view' taken on line 4-3 of Figure-2; and

` the bowl .|2.

necti'ons. Press 'litted' inthe line 20 adjacent the point'of communication with the bowl is a plug 22., The plug "22 is provided with a valve seat 24 facing in ,a direction away from the bowl. A valve closure member '26 is associated with the valve seat 2'4 and provided with a tapered portion to effectively close the valve seat 24.

The valve closure member 26 is secured on one end of a link or rod 28., the link 28 then extending through a central opening 3u in the plug 22 and,

extending a short .distance into the interior of vThe opening 3B is larger than the link 28 to provide a passage Afor water.

Formed inthe interior of the dish shaped container I6. of. the bowlis .ashelf or projection 32v adjacent the vertical wall I8. Vr:Ihe Vupper surface of the projection32 .is provided with av-cavity 34y vto form a bearing Ysurface and .fulcrum for a vertically extendinglever .36. The lever 36 extends upwardly from the cavity 34 across -the inner open -endof the feed .line y20. The Vupper end 38. of the lever 36 is bowed or bent slightly outwardlyv in .a direction away fromrthe wallnl. 'Ilhelinlr 28 .is pivotally secured to the lever 315l asindicated at 45., this point being intermediate the ends .ofthe lever 36.

'A capnr hood 4,2is.secured..to the upper surface of .the Abowl .l2 atthe .end thereof adjacent the. feed linel. The capv 42isshell shaped having aroundedend wallM andlateral walls extending .upland over .aportion of the bowl. The cap l.; 42 is removably secured to the bowl l2 by means of bolts 43. The cap 42, it will therefore be noted, has an open side facing toward the left or toward the main body of the bowl I2. The rounded end wall 44 of the cap 42 continues beyond the top marginal edge and is turned down and back, as indicated at 46, to form a hook. The marginal edge of the hook 46 terminates in spaced relation to the under surface of the wall 44. The lower edge of the cap 42 is formed with depending lugs 4l' on the sides thereof which fit in corresponding cavities 49 in the bowl I2 for retaining the cap in proper position.

A plate 48 is provided for actuation by the animals desiring to drink. The plate 48 has a broad front surface 5B, shown in the present illustration as slightly concave, and a hook 52 at its upper end. The hook 52 is adapted to hook over the cooperating hook 45 and thereby removably support the plate 48. The plate 48 by means of its support by cooperating hooks 46 and 52 is adapted to have swinging movement toward and from the vertical wall I8 on a horizontal axis.

The rear side of the plate 48 facing the vertical wall i8 is provided with a considerable mass of material, as shown at 54to provide weight for swinging the plate 48 to the left by the action of gravity. The weighted portion is formed with a generally downwardly opening cavity 58 disposed toward the upper end of the plate. A bolt 58 is threaded through the curved wall 44 in the cap 42 and is adapted to be contacted by the plate 48 in the movements of the latter. In assembling the plate 48 in the device, the hook 52 is hooked over the hook 45 before the cap 42 is put in position on the bowl. The cap is then lowered into position, with the upper end of the lever 35 being inserted in the cavity 5E, and the cap secured in place. It will be seen that the plate 48 cannot become unhooked by the actions of the animals drinking.

The snout of a hog is shown at 60 in position when the hog drinks from the device. There is usually some water in the device, and when the hog drinks therefrom and lowers the level thereof he extends his snout further down into the bowl, and as the water lowers suiiiciently the hogs snout contacts the plate 48 and swings it to the right. This action swings the lever 36 to the right and opens the valve closure member 26, permitting water to flow into the bowl. The

bolt 58 is adjusted to the desired point to limitv the extent of swinging the plate 48.

In normal operation, when the hog has finished drinking and removes his snout from the bowl, the water in the feed line 20 whether from a pressure system or a gravity fed system, tends to close the valve closure member 2E against the valve seat 24. The plate 48 tends to swing to the left by means of the weighted portion 54, which is an added insurance that the valve closure member will remain closed.

*The portion of the lever 38 below the pivot point 40 is shorter than the length 38 above the pivot point providing increased leverage on the lever '38 when the plate 48 is forced against the lever. Also the bearing point in the cavity 56 with the upper end of the lever 3E, is disposedA considerably above the center of the plate 48. The plate 48 acts as a lever having a short leg above the cavity 56 and a long leg therebelow. When the hog contacts the lower end of the plate 48 added leverage is furnished throughl the plate 48 and lever 36 to enable the hog to open the valve closure member 26 against the high pressure, if such is necessary.

The upper portion 38 of the lever 36 is curved or bent toward the plate 48 so that when the plate 48 is swung to the right, the force directed against the lever 38 is at more nearly right angles to the lever, furnishing a greater degree of movement of the valve closure member 28.

The device is self cleaning. Any dirt that falls into the device is washed from behind the plate 48 by the incoming water, and such foreign matter is vusually consumed by the hog or dragged out of the bowl when he withdraws his head.

It will be noted that the device is made up of a minimum of parts and all of the parts are simple and of rugged construction; the parts are not easily broken and they cannot become disassembled by the action of the animals drinking.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is susceptible of modification and rearrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising, a watering bowl, a feed line having a control Valve communicating with said bowl, a plate pivotally supported in said bowl adjacent said feed 1ine, a lever having one end pivoted in said bowl adjacent said feed line and plate', and a link connected between said lever and control valve, the opposite end of said lever having bearing engagement with said plate, whereby said plate, upon swinging thereof, swings said lever and operates said control valve.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising, a watering bowl, a feed line having a control valve communicating with said bowl, a plate suspended in said bowl and arranged to swing on a horizontal axis, said plate being disposed adjacent said feed line and being weighted to tend to swing away from said feed line, said plate having a generally downwardly opening socket on the side thereof adjacent said feed line, a lever pivoted in said bowl between said plate and said feed line, said lever having a bend such that the swinging end of said lever extends in a direction toward said plate, the swinging end of said lever being fitted in said socket, and a link connecting said lever and said control valve.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising, a watering bowl, a feed line having a control valve communicating with said bowl, a pair of levers pivoted in said bowl adjacent said feed line, said levers having bearing engagement with each other at points spaced from their pivot points, and a link interconnecting one of said levers and said control valve, the other one of said levers having a broad surface directed away from said feed line and toward the body of the interior of the bowl.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising, a watering bowl, a feed line having a control valve communicating with said bowl, a cap removably secured to said bowl adjacent said feed line, said cap covering a relatively small portion of said bowl, the major portion of the bowl being open, hook means on the underside of said cap, and disposed above said bowl, a plate, hook means on said plate adapted to removably hook on and said plate being thereby pivotally supported by the hook means on said cap, said plate when so supported extending into said bowl, and an operative connection between said plate and said control valve, whereby said plate when swung operates said control valve, said operative connection being operative for restraining said plate beyond limited movement and thereby preventing separation of said hook means when said cap is secured to said bowl.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising, a watering bowl, a feed line having a control valve communicating with said bowl, a cap removably secured to said bowl, a plate pivotally supported by said cap and extending downwardly into the bowl, said plate being normally in vertical position and swingable to an alternate position toward horizontal, said plate being mountable on and removable from said cap when in said alternate position and being nonremovable when in vertical position, said plate being disposed adjacent said feed line and having limited swinging movement toward said feed line, said plate having a generally downwardly opening socket, a lever pivoted in said bowl and having its swinging end disposed in said socket, and a link interconnecting said lever and said control valve, said lever and control valve being effective for restraining said plate beyond said limited movement toward said alternate position.

CLINE HARRY HARMON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references'are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date I143,228 Rose Dec. 23, 1890 561,453 Thayer June 2, 1896 1,402,653 Rassmann Jan. 3, 1922 2,067,112 Ahlman Jan. 5, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 327,035 Great Britain ,Mar. 27, 1930 432,139 Great Britain July 22, 1935 

